Plains Wars Miniatures from RAFM and Minifig

 RAFM Miniatures has been around since 1977. Today, they produce figures for fantasy and sci-fi. They still produce historical lines that include the ACW, FIW, and Plains Wars. The lines are limited in selection but are produced in old-style 25mm scale. The sculpting is very well done, and they fit well with vintage Minifigs. I have mixed the two brands in my Plains Wars collection.

I originally found some RAFM Plains Wars figures on eBay before I realized they were still being produced. Once I discovered this, I decided to paint up some for The Men Who Would Be Kings set of wargame rules.

An English wargame group produced a variant for the period that modified the unit sizes and gave the rules more Old West favor.

My unit of scouts has gotten this far. Three of the figures are Native American. For the Sioux War, they were probably Crow or Shosone traditional enemies of the Sioux and Cheyenne. The other three are either white or half-breeds. All scouted for the army. The figure with the tan hat is a Minifig.

Mounted warriors-All RAFM

I tried to highlight the center warrior while blurring the other figures.

These warriors are all Minifigs. To my knowledge, that line is no longer produced. I found these on eBay.

The Minifigs fit well with RAFM. 

RAFM mounted cavalry. The number of available poses is a challenge, but they are great figures.

Dismounted warriors by RAFM

Rebels and Patriots Union Forces in 1\72

 This is the counterpart to my last post, which featured Confederate forces.  The majority of figures used for both collections are 1\72 plastics from Italeri, Airfix, IMEX and Hat. 

My metal Union forces include some excellent 20mm sculpts from Newline. Also featured are some old Musket Miniatures and a few RSM figures.

Both armies are organized for Rebels and Patriots by Osprey. 

Command stands for Hat's Union Cavalry skirmishing.

Newline mounted cavalry painted as US Regulars. The dismounted figures are Musket Miniatures marketed as 22mm back in the day.

My other Newline unit, this time the dismounted figures are also Newline. I like a lot of figure lines but Newline is at the top of the list for 20mm metals.

Hat dismounted cavalry from the Union Cavalry skirmishing set.

Italeri is near the top when it comes to 1\72 plastics. These are from their Union Cavalry set.

IMEX makes a set of Union Cavalry (or Confederate since the figures are the same). The mounted figures have a limited utility value since they are all firing from the saddle. The dismounted figures above are unique because they feature the very rare Colt pistol\carbine. They are among my favorites!

Hat Union Cavalry (mtd). Carbines and revolvers are much in evidence. Excellent set by Hat.

Airfix artillery crews with Musket Miniatures Napoleons.

Italeri Union Infantry (NY Regiments) Command figures are from Newline.

The 26th Wisconsin was a "Sigel Regiment." Sigel Regiments were raised in 1862 from the heavy German areas of Wisconsin and Ohio (and other areas or cities like St. Louis, MO). The figures are Airfix and I painted them up before the Italeri.

Italeri Infantry on skirmish stands.

The 5th New York was named Duryea's Zouaves. One unit is organized as line infantry for Rebels and Patriots and the 12 figures unit is organized as Light Infantry. Both units are a mix of Italeri, Hat and Musket Miniatures. Any Union collection must have at least one Zouave unit!